Recently an article in one of the leading dailies talked about the harrowing experience a mother had whilst celebrating her tot’s birthday. It narrated how stressful it was for her to choose the perfect location; decorate it in keeping with her daughter’s expectations, buying the perfect return gifts and all. In short it was a living nightmare for the parent to measure up to the kid’s demands. All of this was only because the little kid wanted a better and flashier birthday than her best friend! The entire hullabaloo was for a birthday of a five-year-old! Shocking but true. Not just in the Western countries but in India too this trend has been slowly but surely creeping in. It is not uncommon for parents today to gift their children, personal plasma TV, latest video games, designer watches and et al. Gone are the days when children would be content with dolls, board games and books. Yes, these gifts are passé. Suneil turned 7 last month and his birthday gift is a colour TV in his room. His mother Asha who works in a five-star hotel in Mumbai says, “There were big fights between Suneil and my mother in-law over the TV. She wants to watch her serials while he wants to see cartoons. My husband and I are out to work and come back late. We hate to come back home and see the child and grand parent at war. So we bought him a TV for his birthday.”
Sunaina a single mom, 28 years, works in a foreign bank in Kolkata, bought a battery operated miniature bike for her five-year-old brat. “I really feel bad about leaving him with the maid all day long. I work long hours and need to travel frequently. After my husband’s death, I don’t want him to feel deprived.  The bike is very expensive but the look of joy on his face made it worthwhile.”
Kiddie pester power is on the rise. Kids today are smart ‘n’ savvy. If they want something, they know exactly how to lovingly whip their parents into acquiescence. While Suneil cajoled his parents by lamenting how lonely he felt while his parents were at work and having a personal TV would make him happier as he could watch his favourite cartoons sans grand mother’s constant nagging, Sunaina’s son just had to say, “If dad was here, he would have got it for me.” Techniques range from emotional blackmail to temper tantrums, cajoling to manipulation — but the fact is an increasing number of parents are easily succumbing to the relentless pester power their kids wield. Most parents can see through but give in nevertheless. Says Sunaina, “I know my son arm twists me into agreeing to his demands but I give in. He doesn’t have his father and why do I earn if not to give him what he wants?”
The kiddie brigade is also influencing adult decisions of purchase and business can’t stop smacking its lips.  Psychologists point to the spurt in dual-income households, the fact that families now have fewer children, and working parents’ guilt about not being at home more often.
Anjali Chhabria, a Mumbai-based child psychologist with 20 years of experience, says, ‘‘Parents try to give their kids opportunities they didn’t get when they were young. Parents often try to live vicariously through their kids and make up for many of their own short-comings.” Psychiatrist Dr Shetty opines, Parents want whatever little time they spend with their kids to be pleasant and tantrum-free, so they give in to the child’s demand.” The usual line of thought is ‘we can afford it, so let the kid have fun.’! Child psychiatrists say that today’s children are confronting a new world with new rules, where they are taught to be more assertive, more independent and to make choices. But teaching your child how to make choices is one thing and allowing them to have their way at any cost is quite another.